Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
17m
Distance
8.5 mi
14 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Astoria, NY
Wikimedia Commons
University Heights, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Astoria, NY to University Heights, NY is 8.5 miles and takes about 17m via Major Deegan Expressway, with a fuel budget near $1 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This quick trip stays within New York, transitioning from the Northeast region of Astoria to the Northeast region of University Heights. It's a primarily highway-focused drive, making it a convenient option for a short hop between boroughs or neighborhoods. Given its brevity, this route is best suited for a single-day excursion where you can easily fit it into your schedule without needing an overnight stay. You'll encounter a 74% highway share, so expect mostly high-speed driving.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Major Deegan Expressway | 4 mi | 5m |
| I 278 Truck | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Astoria Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Sedgwick Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West 183rd Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 179th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Hoyt Avenue North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Astoria Boulevard North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Astoria, NY and University Heights, NY.
Start on 12th Street
Turn right onto Astoria Boulevard
Turn left onto 33rd Street
At end of road, turn left onto Astoria Boulevard North
Continue on Hoyt Avenue North
Take the ramp
Continue on I 278 Truck
Take the exit
Continue on I 87
Take the exit
Continue on West 179th Street
Turn left onto Sedgwick Avenue
Turn right onto West 183rd Street
Keep slight right at fork onto West 183rd Street
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 8.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left onto Astoria Boulevard North
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward I 278 East
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward I 87 North: Albany
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit toward West 179th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto West 183rd Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Regular Gas
$1.40 one way
$2.80 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $1.51 | $3.03 |
| premium | $4.92 | $1.65 | $3.29 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.88 | $3.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.6 | 0 | $0.89 | $0.41 |
| Efficient EV | 2.1 | 0 | $0.74 | $0.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.19 | $0.54 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Astoria on Tuesday
Local time
8:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Morning in University Heights on Tuesday
Local time
8:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 74% of the journey utilizing major expressways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Major Deegan Expressway, including a continuous stretch of 4 miles. Expect a relatively fast-paced experience as you navigate these main roads, designed for efficient travel. While the exact transitions aren't dramatic, the shift from local Astoria streets onto the expressway marks the main change in driving character. It's a straightforward route without many complex turns or varied road types.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Major Deegan Expressway and I 278 Truck. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near Astoria Boulevard North.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 8.5 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (Astoria Boulevard North): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Founded 1659
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 17m. Total distance: 8.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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